Next Years, most improved player?

[hawk_it]

Just curious who everyone thinks will improve the most by the start of next year? Not talking the MVP of next years team, but most improved from end of this year to beginning of next season.

This is extremely hard to choose! The sample size is small for Ryan Kriener and Maishe Dailey. They could both really take off.

I am going with Tyler Cook. Here is why. I think he will add the right hand around the basket. A short mid range game, may be something off the glass. Improved FT shooting and more defensive rebounding. I think he showed tremendous improvement at the end of this season in offensive rebounding already.

 

[LGEND24]

I'll go with Moss. He has shown flashes, but has disappeared in a lot of games. I look for his game to improve tremendously and be counted on to contribute on a consistent basis.

 

[Hawkherky]

Has to be Kriener, he's the only guy who showed a mid range jump shot and was consistent in making it. He was just stuck behind a lot of others. (Might b next year also). He's just going to have to go out and earn his minutes. I've seen enough of Ellingson and Uhl.

 

[kceasthawk]

Has to be Kriener, he's the only guy who showed a mid range jump shot and was consistent in making it. He was just stuck behind a lot of others. (Might b next year also). He's just going to have to go out and earn his minutes. I've seen enough of Ellingson and Uhl.

Also Kreiner had very little work preseason last year due to injury and illness. This will be a big offseason for him in terms of his spot in the rotation going forward.

 

[Suterman]

I think Kriener will be the most improved. I think he has a chance to start.

 

[kceasthawk]

Has to be Kriener, he's the only guy who showed a mid range jump shot and was consistent in making it. He was just stuck behind a lot of others. (Might b next year also). He's just going to have to go out and earn his minutes. I've seen enough of Ellingson and Uhl.

I think it could go either way. Either Moss is one of the breakout players, or he might fall off the rotation. He seems to lack confidence in his abilities, which is weird because he certainly has the skills. I think the fact that he was never the MAN in high school maybe limiting his mental approach. This is Frans main challenge for next year, to lift Moss's believe in his ability to play at a high level consistantly.

 

[Pepperman]

At this time next year, if we're saying it was Cook, I cannot imagine what kind of a year that kid will have had but it will be awesome.

I kind of hope we're saying it was Moss. He can't replace Jok's offense, but he could come close and if the team plays better defense, I think we'd be a better squad overall.

I've said this a lot on this board, but next year won't be much better than this year. The following year, 2018-2019 will be the big year.

 

[dsmithqc]

Kriener and Moss; Kriener needs to add about 10-15 lbs and Moss just his consistency. I agree on Uhl and Ellingson. Williams' free throw shooting at under 50% is inexcusable for a guard. Maybe if we could combine Williams athleticism with Ellingson's shooting we would have an all conference performer. My biggest question mark is how coach works in the three rookies. His son has to play because he shoots better than 80% from the line and has good handles and can distribute the ball; Garza is definitely needed in the middle - with a 7'2" wingspan he can alter a lot of shots and help decrease the number of layups that we have been giving up. Also, with he and Kriener we have 10 fouls. That is very important with Fran's hooking players with 2 fouls in the first half; i also think Kriener could play the four with his outside shot. Nunge is also a very good long range shooter and can block shots like Uthoff. Fran has some work to do but it's a good problem to have. Just hope we can improve the D by 5 to 10 points per game next year.

 

[anon_2zMXH429BhxV1Npk]

I'll throw someone out there: Pemsl.

If he can develop any kind of mid-range jumper, I think he will be dangerous. I think with an offseason under his belt, next year we could really see him more comfortable on the court and be more of a facilitator on offense with his passing ability. Even if he can't develop a jumper, it would be great to see him in a role like Joakim Noah on the Bulls on offense.

Kriener is my second choice. I think his biggest issue this year was the speed of the game, especially on defense. While most of the freshmen were pretty lost on D usually, he always seemed especially a step behind and was more foul prone than Cook or Pemsl. Clean that up and at worst he's a serviceable backup big, but I feel like will be much more.

 

[Hawkherky]

If it is going to be Moss it better be him establishing himself as a slasher, a guy who can drive into the lane and either finish or dump it off to a big. How many times this year did we see Iowa play good D until the last 3 seconds when an opposing player drove into the lane for a lay-up or short jumpshot. On the other hand when Iowa has the ball and there are 3 or less seconds left we throw up a three point prayer. (Tired of that)

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Pemsl will be stronger and faster. He will develop a short jumper that will make him more of a scoring threat. And his FT'S will be much better.

After a year with Doyle, his body will catch up with his BB IQ.

 

[bagdropper]

I really hope it's a lot of guys fighting for the "label" of most improved. Every member returning has major skills they need to improve on.

 

[doughawk]

Hawk 4 sur, Doyle doesn't work with basketball players on weight training.
The basketball team has their own trainer.

 

[MMoran]

Williams - need to be able to finish and shoot the mid-range jumper.... Fastest guy on the court.... If he can just get his offense going....

I know a lot of people are not going to agree with me... But if Williams and Wagner got their offense going and the defense as a whole improved this team would be easily one of the best in the country...

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Uhl

I'm actually serious. Just have a feeling he puts it together his Senior season.

 

[Curt Furence]

Pemsl will be stronger and faster. He will develop a short jumper that will make him more of a scoring threat. And his FT'S will be much better.

After a year with Doyle, his body will catch up with his BB IQ.

Doyle is football only I believe. They have another guy who works with basketball and a couple of other sports, but the point still stands

 

[icwesthawk]

Williams, Kriener and Uhl need to be improved and should be important pieces next season. Williams moves to the 3 spot, agree that Kriener may be able to start at the 5 and Uhl has to figure it out, senior year and all.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

In order for me:

Moss might have the most potential upside from this year. He needs much more consistency, better decision making, and a tenacity, which I haven't seen.

Cook already has shown us some of what he can do late this season. He needs to bring it every game, all of the time, on both ends. If he adds a consistent outside shot, he could almost unstoppable. Cook has the potential to be another biggy Swanigan, if he wants it bad enough.

Kriener needs to work on his quickness (if possible) and his court awareness on the defensive end. He will be in a tough competition just to get many minutes.

Pemsl already has a great assortment of moves around the basket. I like that he plays with an edge. As noted, he needs to add a mid-range jumper. He needs to get quicker by converting 10-15 lbs of baby fat to muscle.

The entire team, except JBo and Ellingson, need to improve their FT shooting. Perimeter players should shoot over 80%, which will be really tough for Williams, and interior players need to shoot at least 70%, which might be tough for Wagner.

The potential is there for a very good team.

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

The topic of Doyle as strength coach (yes, he is ONLY strength coach for FB) brings up an area I have always been concerned about with the program. That is Iowa Basketballs dedication to strength and conditioning program. I used to talk with the strength coach under Dr Tom and Alford (Maxwell) occasionally and I know he was a bit frustrated he really didn't have much backing from them. I have no idea how much Lick or Fran believes in and dedicates to strength and conditioning. I believe it is time to have a S&C coach who ONLY works with the basketball team. I know Maxwell had to work with numerous other teams along with basketball. I recall reading about how Michael Jordan said early in his NBA career he became sick and tired of getting "beat up" against the Detroit Pistons physical play. In the off season he dedicated to a S&C program to get stronger and said he was amazed that not only did he get stronger but how much it actually helped his jump shot. I love his quote "I wanted to make my weakness my strength". All the young players should take a look and identify what their weakness is physical strength, free throw shooting, lateral quickness, ect and make it a strength. We can all sit here and watch these young players and identify their weaknesses. The player that takes this offseason to improve that weakness will be next years "most improved"

 

[Hawk_4shur]

It will be interesting to watch Uhl, assuming he stays. There is something about being a Senior that really helps some players take a big step. He is strong, skilled and athletic, but seems to lack confidence and knowing when to be aggressive with the ball. Hopefully being a Senior will give him a boost.

 

[ChiHawk21]

PEMSL will be a boss next season. Potential Greg Brunner stats in his Sophomore season.

 

[Underscore2]

Agree with Christian Williams, but it would take a major improvement to get any kind of pt next year. Though since he's already an asset on defense, any improvement on offense consistency might be enough to get that pt.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I'm gonna go Ahmad Wagner. A seasoned vet, more confidence. I think he's gonna make a big step forward

 

[unIowa]

Hawk 4 sur, Doyle doesn't work with basketball players on weight training.
The basketball team has their own trainer.

Don't get his hopes up of CP developing into a 1st round draft pick at left tackle.

 

[unIowa]

It will be interesting to watch Uhl, assuming he stays. There is something about being a Senior that really helps some players take a big step. He is strong, skilled and athletic, but seems to lack confidence and knowing when to be aggressive with the ball. Hopefully being a Senior will give him a boost.

I hope you are right but he appears to have poor hands both catching and finishing shots. Oddly he has a really decent handle though...I can't figure Uhl out.

 

[kceasthawk]

I'll throw someone out there: Pemsl.

If he can develop any kind of mid-range jumper, I think he will be dangerous. I think with an offseason under his belt, next year we could really see him more comfortable on the court and be more of a facilitator on offense with his passing ability. Even if he can't develop a jumper, it would be great to see him in a role like Joakim Noah on the Bulls on offense.

Kriener is my second choice. I think his biggest issue this year was the speed of the game, especially on defense. While most of the freshmen were pretty lost on D usually, he always seemed especially a step behind and was more foul prone than Cook or Pemsl. Clean that up and at worst he's a serviceable backup big, but I feel like will be much more.

G

Uhl

I'm actually serious. Just have a feeling he puts it together his Senior season.

Not that I'm a betting man, but if I was, I'd surely want some of that action. After three years watching Dom play, I'd be shocked if he was a different player next year. Pleasantly, but shocked none the less.

 

[hawk_it]

Thought on Pemsl, it will be another year of healing and adding strength on his repaired leg.

 

[hawk_it]

Maishe Dailey really intrigues me. I think he will be a very good player. Nice looking shot, smart decisions, understands the game. Just not very much sample size yet.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Who was most improved this year? I'd say Bohannon from beginning of the season to end. Ellingson or Baer if we go by returning players.

Lots of players have room to improve for next year. That's the exciting thing about a young team.

For next year, I think Moss will be most improved, but I think Kreiner and Ellingson will surprise.

 

[Rudolph]

I'm going to go with—it could be hard to tell—because I think several guys will make significant improvements. I believe this because of the developing chemistry and culture with Bohannon apparently leading the program (indisputably with Jok done).

Bohannon will improve dramatically because I think his body is going to mature some. Once his base and core become stronger, watch out. There are guys in the NBA who are great below-the-rim finishers (Curry and Irving to name two) who he can emulate. And there is no doubt that Bohannon will be in the lab.

Speaking of lab—I love that Pemsl, Cook, and Kriener each brings something different. Pemsl and Cook can strive to shoot it like Kriener. So competitive shooting drills Kriener lifts them all. Poems with footwork, Cook with aggression. I really hope Cook goes full laboratory on footwork. Tim Duncan. Or just learn from Pemsl. Those three guys I think will help each other hone strengths and improve on weaknesses simply because one guy's weakness is another guy's weakness. This is my hope, anyway.

Moss I think is plenty confident. I think he just never could figure out how to fit with Jok. I'm not worried about Moss' confidence at all. He should thrive simply by knowing when and where his shots are going to come, and that his light is always green now,, whereas I think he felt it was yellow when Jok was on the floor.

Baer is I suspect just going to become a little more consistent shooting the ball, and maybe he'll be the guy that gets that opposite post duck-in play that Jok got this season. I think he'll also drill to have some more slashing ability. But mostly I see his improvement just in terms of more consistency. Baer is awesome.

Daily I have high hopes. I really think he has serious talent. We'll see. Early this year, in limited action, I saw a poor man's Stacey Augmon out denying the wing and gliding around the court. We'll see.

Uhl I just don't have a clue any more. I'm glad that the last few games he played fairly well, and looked confident defensively. Not sure how he'll improve, though. His shot is flawed, but when he's confident, he's capable of stand-still threes. His handle is fine in the open floor, but once space contracts in the half court, he becomes conservative. I just hope he sticks it out as good teams usually have some senior contributions, even if they are relatively minor.

Wagner, not sure. I love what he brings, and hope he can make incremental improvements, but I suppose my big hope is that he can add a face-up jumper so he can space the floor a little for the other big on the floor. Watching warmups at the TCU game he was "working" on his three-ball (casually shooting threes) and looked far more comfortable and natural than Uhl—for what that's worth.

Ellington is about maxed out I think. I hope the Rutgers game is something he can replicate maybe 6 or 7 times throughout the year, because the real, really good teams have that from their 9th or 10th guy. It's hard to play him with Bohannon versus teams with breakdown guards. But he, Uhl, and Wagner are a good senior group to support everything coming up behind them class-wise.

I think that's it. I'm excited for next year. I think the culture of this group will virtually ensure that everybody makes a noticeable improvement.

 

[TKingpin]

Dailey. I think he can play back-up PG, the 2 and is tall enough to play the 3. I think he is an excellent passer and can shoot the 3.

Not even sure where his weaknesses are, except experience.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

I think multiple guys will improve next year. And if they do-- with three really good players coming in- this could be an exciting team. I think Cook improves the most in all areas. Agree that Kriener will get better, but will his minutes increase? I just think he needs more experience and playing time, and his natural talent will come to the fore. I think Pemsl improves a lot; this was basically the first year he played healthy in the last several. Agree he needs to muscle up, and work on his speed and jumping. I suspect that his hardware in his leg limits him, but he is very savvy and he does what he can and he avoids what he can't do. There is no doubt that he'll work on his mid-range shot, free throws and test his legs more in the off-season. Wagner seemed to improve as the year went on, and I see him getting more confident. Uhl could surprise if he decides to work on his offense. I think all the new guys next year will be in our top ten rotation, especially Connor, so if a player doesn't improve, he is going to lose minutes or sit, or quit/transfer.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Pemsl will be stronger and faster. He will develop a short jumper that will make him more of a scoring threat. And his FT'S will be much better.

After a year with Doyle, his body will catch up with his BB IQ.

Too bad he hadn't already developed that short jumper for that last shot on Sunday.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Team defense & Rebounding....may not be a player...but it will happen. Luka says so.

 

[RocknRollface]

You could have 10 different answers and any of them could be right.

A couple guys will likely improve allot.

Should be a fun year.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I don't care they all can improve 95%, if they do not learn how to play defense, we are screwed. We will be losing games 100-91 (ala memphis & UNO). You have to stop someone in order to win and for whatever reason our guys are offensively gifted, but on the defensive end they suck.

So Im gonna say the whole team improves as a unit defensively. I think this team will be better defensively as the freshman have been fed to the dogs. They understand now what is needed on both ends of the floor.

Individual my guess is Moss. I think this kid is a gamer and there was a reason ISU, WISKY and other power 5 schools were in on him. He has the tools/game to take us to the next level. This year I think he struggled with this role because Jok was "hunting" shots out there all the time. I think now with Job gone, Moss will be able to do his thing and play his style. Plus having bigs who can hit the "outside" shot will pull big men away from the basket and allow for driving lanes.

 

[kceasthawk]

I don't care they all can improve 95%, if they do not learn how to play defense, we are screwed. We will be losing games 100-91 (ala memphis & UNO). You have to stop someone in order to win and for whatever reason our guys are offensively gifted, but on the defensive end they suck.

So Im gonna say the whole team improves as a unit defensively. I think this team will be better defensively as the freshman have been fed to the dogs. They understand now what is needed on both ends of the floor.

Individual my guess is Moss. I think this kid is a gamer and there was a reason ISU, WISKY and other power 5 schools were in on him. He has the tools/game to take us to the next level. This year I think he struggled with this role because Jok was "hunting" shots out there all the time. I think now with Job gone, Moss will be able to do his thing and play his style. Plus having bigs who can hit the "outside" shot will pull big men away from the basket and allow for driving lanes.

Certainly agree that improvement needs to be made on the defensive side, and I think it will . It takes some time to be able for all these new players to learn to play defense as a unit, especially with the number of substitutions we make. I'm not sure I'd agree that Jok was hunting shots every game, but Moss definetly deferred to Jok when they were on the court together, and he won't be doing that next year. I think of all the young players, Moss has had the hardest time finding his niche within the team. He was a freshman last year, but redshirted. This after being the only new player that year to not participate in the summer because he stayed in Chicago. A whole new group of freshman comes in this season. They form an immediate bond. Remember that Jbo, Pemsl, and Kreiner played AAU ball together. Although Moss was a freshman eligible this year, he's kind of been on the outside of this group as well. I'm hopeful next season that Moss will find that role all his own within the team, and he'll really take off. I could see him being a more powerful version of Dev Marble.

 

[JEDN]

I say Moss or Cook.